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Software Programs Derive Measurements from Photographs

Saturday, 01 January 2011

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NASA Technology

Even under the most unfortunate circumstances,
NASA continues on a path of innovation. After
the Space Shuttle Columbia reentered the atmosphere
on February 1, 2003, it experienced a catastrophic
failure, and the entire crew and vehicle were lost. For the
two weeks prior to the accident, Columbia STS-107 was
on a mission to perform physical, life, and space sciences
research in the unique environment of microgravity.

Following the accident, the remaining shuttles—
Endeavor, Atlantis, and Discovery—were grounded, and
an intense investigation ensued. The Columbia Accident
Investigation Board spent nearly 7 months examining
the cause of the accident and determining what would
ensure a safe return to flight. To this end, investigators
performed an extensive review down five analytic paths:
aerodynamic, thermodynamic, sensor data timeline,
debris reconstruction, and imaging.

As part of the evaluation of all the available imagery
from Columbia’s ascent, orbit, and entry, investigators
needed a new method for analyzing still video images to
determine the size of the material that fell from Columbia,
as well as the distance that the material traveled. John
Lane, a scientist at Kennedy Space Center, devised a
software program to calculate the unknown dimension of
the material in the images, and soon after the investigation
was complete, continued to enhance the technology.
Eventually, the program that assisted in the Columbia
investigation became available for licensing.

Partnership

In 2008, DigiContractor Corporation of Tarzana,
California, learned about the NASA software as well
as an additional, related NASA program, and obtained
a license for each technology. Paul Minor, founder of
DigiContractor, wanted to use the NASA technology to
enhance the capabilities of an existing product line called
uPhotoMeasure.

Originally developed to measure the dimensions of
items in a photograph for construction purposes, uPhotoMeasure
can be applied to calculate measurements from
a photo for a variety of applications—from landscaping or
flooring projects to crime scenes or auto accidents.

“We dissected the NASA version and then we incorporated
some of that technology into ours. It’s a benefit to
our algorithms and gives an added level of accuracy,” says
Minor. “NASA partnerships are beneficial because they
provide access to the technologies that are being developed
at the Government level. They’re not in business to
take these technologies to market, but we are.”

Benefits

With a background in general contracting, Minor had
become accustomed to estimating measurements from a
photograph, but he wanted to apply a software program
that could calculate accurate measurements from a photo.
After working with a friend who helped him design the
software, Minor tested and refined the technology. By
2004, he formed DigiContractor with funding from
family and friends.

Over the next several years, the software was modified
and updated, and now includes the NASA technology.
According to the company, if used correctly, uPhotoMeasure
can make measurements with at least 95-percent
accuracy. Today, the software has close to 5,000 users
who have downloaded the program to their computers or
access the software on the Internet.

Question of the Week

This week's Question: A recent study created by the Arizona-based Paragon Space Development Corporation says its life support system could help humans survive on Mars. The proposed Environmental Control and Life Support System, the company says,...